Reviewed by Leonard Smuts for Readers' Favorite

Few success stories read like this one. From a shaky start in life as a member of a biker gang that was rough company and had brushes with the law, Dale Arenson turned his life around to follow his passion for aviation. The Lucky One: From Outlaw Biker to Airline Pilot and Beyond, Book 2 continues the theme that began with his first memoir, Outlaw Biker, describing how he quit his dead-end job in 1979, shrugged off a failed marriage, rejected suicide as an option, and returned to biking for a short time. The author takes readers through the difficult path to becoming a qualified airline pilot, starting at the most basic level before obtaining an instructor’s rating to earn pocket money. From then on, it was an increasingly steep learning curve to achieve commercial and multi-engine ratings, while building up flying hours by doing charter and ferry work and fire control spotting. Flying can be dangerous unless you have situational awareness and focus. Fire fighting from the air poses additional challenges in the form of dangerous conditions such as unpredictable air currents, as well as rugged terrain and mechanical failures. As implied by the title, luck can play a role. Commercial airlines only recruit experienced pilots, but the rewards are considerable once that level is attained.

The book is inspirational, not only for aspirant airline pilots but also for those who need to face difficult life choices to achieve their dreams. The account is refreshingly honest, strikes a positive tone throughout, and does not apportion blame to others. The Lucky One is filled with incidents, accidents, near-misses, and anecdotes involving the author and the interesting array of characters that the industry attracts. It describes flying everything from single-engine light aircraft, through vintage piston engine machines, to jet-powered executive transports and airliners. The story brings readers up to 1986 when Dale Arenson applied to join a major airline – his original goal. It takes time, effort, skill, and money to reach the required standard, but Arenson looks beyond financial reward to satisfy his driving ambition. This book will appeal to all aviation enthusiasts, as well as those looking for motivation outside the conventional self-help mold. The book is rounded off with a comprehensive glossary. It is highly recommended and the author is set to continue his journey with a third volume.